Most fantasy settings have extremely similar weaponry to each other, which tend to be based on weapons found in Europe during the Medieval or Renaissance periods. Some will try to add some diversity by adding some Asian weapons, such as the katana, sai, or some of the more colorful weapons associated with wing chun or kung fu. However, many other cultures had different styles of weapons based on such factors as available materials, fighting style for their army, or even the geography.

The weapon shown above is real. It is made of actual shark teeth and weapons like this were used in warfare for hundreds of years. A weapon like this clearly comes from a seafaring society where they did not have access to metals like bronze or iron. The teeth and even the wood can only be found on islands in the South Pacific. There are several reasons to create a weapon like this, such as a lack of materials like iron or bronze, the sea water damaging these materials, or even something as simple as the weapon would float if dropped in the water.

Once you have a weapon, or better yet, a series of weapons for your culture, you should think about how they are actually used in combat. Looking at the weapon above, one thing to note is that shark teeth aren’t that sturdy and the teeth are pointed back. The weapon also looks absolutely frightening. The implication is that the wielder killed a shark for their teeth. One way to use this weapon effectively would be to simply scare people away. Check out the video below and think about how you would react to these warriors coming toward you.

Now, imagine that while they are doing this, each of them has one of those swords at their feet. Some warriors even tattooed their tongues to make those faces even more fierce. Even more frightening, the more tattoos one of them has, the more people they have defeated in battle.

When conceptualizing your cultures and their weapons, look beyond the standard sword and shield. Check out the urumi from India, the iklwa from the Zulu, the frightening number of throwing daggers and swords used in Africa, and the obsidian weaponry of the Aztecs. At the same time, look at the rules of engagement when it comes to these cultures. Rituals like the haka, tests of strength or martial ability, and even armies standing by while a champion from each side fights to decide who wins the day have all happened in history.

Looking beyond the stories of Europe, China, and Japan can bring many new inspirations in your world building.